Ever wondered about the several hours you spend with your eyes constantly rivetted on your computer screens, laptops, cell-phones, television... all an inescapable part of our hectic daily lives, and the toll it takes on your eyes?

What’s worse is that trapped in this fast-pace, we have ready excuses of not finding the time to take care of them. But there are some easy everyday tips that you can follow for healthy eyes. Here’s what to do...

Regular check-ups
Visit your optician at least once in six months. Besides, regular care, it will be easy to diagnose eye diseases at an early stage.

Wear UV protection
Protect your eyes by investing in a pair of good sunglasses that shield them from the harmful rays of the sun. This will also prevent wrinkles and ageing of the delicate skin area around it.

Stop smoking
Smoking, even passively, plays a vital role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and causes vision loss. So quit smoking.

Pile up on those leafy greens
Zinc, vitamin A, C and E go a long way when it comes to bright healthy eyes. So eat a large variety of fruit and vegetables to get plenty of antioxidants helpful for the health of your eyes.

Know your family history
Many eye diseases are hereditary, so knowing your family’s annals of eye maladies can diminish your hazards of eye diseases.

On the look-out
Listen to the signals that your eyes send you. If your eyes feel dry and tired, then refrain from reading, watching TV or computer.

Cultivate good reading habits
Don’t read late at night when your eyes are tired. Don’t stare too long at black and white print. Look away about every twenty minutes to give your eyes a break. Have a protective screen over your computer to keep the glare off. Also ensure that there is no bright light glaring from office surfaces.

Here are some easy exercises to help you rejuvenate and strengthen your eye muscles:

Palming
Rub your hands together briskly to generate heat. Once warmed, place the palms over your eyes making sure to block all light. Close your eyes. You will notice ‘spots’. This is simply eye fatigue. These will disappear as eyes relax.

Rolling
Start by looking up as far as you can to your left. (Not your head, just your eyes). Slowly roll your eyes from left to right then in a wide circle until you end up where you started. Do twice to the right and then reverse directions and roll the opposite way.

Squeeze and blink
Squeeze your eye lids together tightly. Open, and blink rapidly several times. Repeat once or twice more.

The 20-20-20 rule
If your eyes are weary from working at a computer for long, follow the 20-20-20 rule — look up from screen every 20 minutes at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.